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Piazza Duomo, duomo stop on metro line 1. Milan's Duomo is the world's fourth-largest church. The late Gothic wonder, a myriad of spires and statuary, marble pinnacles and pillars, represents the heart of Milan. Above the altar is a nail that is said to have come from Christ's cross. Every September, the Archbishop of Milan retrieves the sacred nail from its perch high above the nave and presents it to an adoring congregation. The view from the roof is the city's finest. It can be reached by a steep external staircase, consisting of 919 steps. The effort of the climb is rewarded by the magnificent view of the surrounding plain up to the Alps and the "Madonnina" , the golden statue of the Virgin Mary, the 135 lace-like spires and the many statues which decorate the roof. The construction of the Duomo began in 1386 promoted by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lord of Milan, and continued for centuries. It was completed only in 1960, when the last bronze door was put into place. The Duomo is, of course, still under restoration but the closeted façade has been used, as last year, as a backdrop for a multi-media presentation. Called Tra cielo e terra, it told the history of the cathedral with images and sound. Hopefully by next year work should be over and the Duomo will be once again viewed in all its glory. |